Best Route from Delhi to Dharamsala by Road

Updated on June 7, 2011

If you love traveling by road and enjoying each and every bit of your travel, then the information I am going to share in this travel page will be beneficial for you. This information is for those who are planning to visit Dharamshala from Delhi by road. I have provided a few photographs from my travel plus driving directions, route map, and explained the best route to visit this heavenly place in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra Valley. The beauty of this place cannot be described in just words. You can have an idea about this place from the pictures but will be able to reveal the natural beauty of Dharamshala only by visiting this place, so read on my travel advice so that you can reach this place without any confusion or problems.

A trip to Dharamashala by road will be the most amazing experience of your life - right when the hills will start - it will be time to take out your digicam. | Source

Watching the low lying plains from top cloud kissing peaks has its own charm at Dharamshala. | Source

The mighty Himalayas as viewed from Dharamshala - standing there since eternity and pushing up a few millimeters every year from the mean sea level. | Source

Dr. SK Marwah MBBS Civil Hospital in Dharamshala. | Source

The shortest and best route from Delhi to Dharamshala by Road:

Start from Delhi and continue driving on NH1 until you reach Khanna via Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Rajpura, Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh but mind one thing that as you cross Ambala, you will see two roads. The road going straight goes to Chandigarh so do not continue straight. You will see the road diverting towards the right and going up towards a flyover, take that road and continue on NH1. As you will reach Khanna and are almost about to cross the city, you will see a wide road going to your right and will see the board for Samrala, Rahon, and Nawanshahr. Leave NH1 and take this road on your right. Now no left right, simply continue on the main state highway until Nawanshahr. As you reach and almost cross Nawanshahr, you will see an intersection. The right goes to Chandigarh. Don’t turn and just move ahead and as you cross the intersection, you will see a road turning little right. Don’t continue straight and take that right turn which goes to Hoshiarpur. If you get confused, simply ask anyone and they will tell you the road to Hoshiarpur. From here, again no turn until you reach Garhshankar. As you reach Garhshankar, you will cross a railway line and just after that, take a right turn, you will straight reach Hoshiarpur. As you reach Hoshiarpur, ask anyone about directions to Dharmshala. You will cross the city of Hoshiarpur and will come on the highway for Dharmshala. After around 15 kilometers as you will leave Hoshiarpur, hills will start and from here straight highway goes to Dharmshala.

Dharamshala pictures | Source

Second route from Delhi to Dharamshala by Road

Now if first route looks a bit confusing to you, then I will tell you a simple most but little longer route. This route is same like the first route up to Khanna. In the first route, I asked you to take right from Khanna, here, don’t turn and continue on the same NH1 until you reach Jalandhar via Ludhiana, Phillaur, and Phagwara. As you approach Jalandhar, you will see a roundabout (this is the first roundabout in Jalandhar City so no there should be no confusion). On the left, you will see Army Cantonment and a flyover on the right. Turn right from here and this road straight goes to Hoshiarpur. From here it is the same route like the first one. So this route is the most simple. Delhi to Jalandhar on NH1, and from there, right to Hoshiarpur and then left to Dharmshala.

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Comments 19 comments

It would have been an amazing trip Gulti. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

rsusan 5 years ago from South Africa

Thanks for making it possible for me to travel in this wonderful experience. Looks like a rewarding trip on many levels.

soni2006 5 years ago from New Delhi, India Author

Yes you are right rsusan. The trip to Northern Indian Hill Stations is an experience of lifetime. Best of luck for your trip.

sweetie1 5 years ago from India

Wow soni nice hub and i didn't know road is so beautiful and so empty.. also nice pics of the mountains.

soni2006 5 years ago from New Delhi, India Author

Thank you so much Sweetie1. I wish I am able to help users who are looking for the best route to visit Dharamshala from Delhi.

Shailendra 5 years ago

Hi Soni,

I'm confuse between choosing route via 'Chandigar-una' or which you have suggested.

if possible, could you please let me know why this route (suggested by you) is better than 'Chandigar-una' route as I came to know through google map that Chandigar-una route is sorter than your route.

also buses from delhi to dharamshala follow the same route, please help.

Thanks in advance.

~Shailendra

Rajendra Narsimhan 4 years ago

We are going from Delhi to Mclaudganj for a 10 day trip on 20th June.On a friends suggestion we booked 1 nite at LakeView Hotel Bilaspur(midway stop).Spend evening and night and leave next morning (after BF)for Dharamsala.Can some one suggest the Best Route to take. We live in West Delhi(PaschimVihar)....Rajendra

Sameer 3 years ago

What is the total toll tax paid from delhi to dharamshala.

soni2006 3 years ago from New Delhi, India Author

Don't remember now Sameer.

Rohit 3 years ago

I am a planning to visit Dharam shala on 26-27th March 2013 & have been thinking to go bu my Petrol Car. Can anyone suggest me best of jouney i.e. best route? cheap & best hotel? shud I go via Car or take volvo.....pls give me missed call oin my cell no: 9899-061-820. Many Thanks, Rohit

A.K.MEHRA 3 years ago

I AM PLANNING TO VISIT DHARAMSHALA FROM WED, 13TH TO 16TH BY MY CAR, PETROL , DZIRE & STAY AT ANUPAM RESORTS. WHAT'S BEST ROUTE ? HOW COLD IT WILL BE THERE , ESPECIALLY AT NT ?PL GUIDE.

Manu from meerut arrived on 26 june from Dharamshala thru this route 2 years ago

All roads are good. I started at 7 am from Gurgaon and reached 7 pm at Mcleodganj with over 3 hrs of breaks

Tolls: Panipat 111 and 30

Ambala 67

Kharar Kurali - 43

Anandpur Sahib - 55

Nangal : 30 Entry only

Anshul Kumar 15 months ago

I want to take a night halt in between this route. Please suggest best place to take a halt in midway.

Arindam 15 months ago

Hi, I am planning a 6 days trip with family (wife and 5.5 years daughter) to Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Mcloedgung during Nov last week. I do not have much experience of hill driving but otherwise can drive longer distance (drove from Bangalore to Delhi - 2717 km on Wagonr). Kindly advise

a) Road Condition

b) shortest and safe route

c) Whether food joints and petrol pumps available across the route.

ashok 14 months ago

route to dharmshal via khanna is very bad as per my confused and road also not good

soni2006 14 months ago from New Delhi, India Author

So Ashok why don't you take this route:

Tolls: Panipat

Ambala

Kharar Kurali -

Anandpur Sahib -

Nangal :

Manoj Aggarwal 6 months ago

Hi can u please tell me how much toll tax & state tax I have to pay Delhi-dharamshala-Delhi if travelling by a temp traveller